Loropetalum named ‘Kurobijin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive cultivar of  Loropetalum  named ‘Kurobijin’ that is characterized by its compact plant habit, its flowers that are deep red-purple in color, its late blooming period, its foliage that is dark burgundy in color with the color persisting throughout the summer, and its oval shaped leaves.

Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense.

Variety denomination: ‘Kurobijin’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum chinense and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Kurobijin’. ‘Kurobijin’ is a deciduous shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation (chance seedling) in a field plot at a nursery in Kawaguchi City, Japan in 1997. The parents of ‘Kurobijin’ are unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood cuttings in Kawaguchi City, Japan in 2009. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Kurobijin’ as a unique cultivar of Loropetalum.

-   -   1. ‘Kurobijin’ exhibits a compact plant habit, reaching a         maximum of 2.5 feet in height and width.     -   2. ‘Kurobijin’ exhibits flowers that are deep red-purple in         color.     -   3. ‘Kurobijin’ blooms 3 to 4 weeks later than is typical of         cultivars of Loropetalum known to the Inventor.     -   4. ‘Kurobijin’ exhibits foliage that is dark burgundy in color         with the color persisting throughout the summer.     -   5. ‘Kurobijin’ exhibits oval shaped leaves.         The new cultivar can be compared to the cultivars ‘Hines Dark         Leaf’ (not patented), and ‘Burgundy’ (not patented). ‘Hines Dark         Leaf’ is similar to ‘Kurobijin’ in having dark burgundy colored         foliage, however, ‘Hines Dark Leaf’ differs from ‘Kurobijin’ in         blooming 3 to 4 weeks earlier, in having lighter colored         flowers, and in being taller in height (reaches up to 10 feet in         height). ‘Burgundy’ is similar to ‘Kurobijin’ in having burgundy         colored foliage, however, ‘Burgundy’ differs from ‘Kurobijin’ in         having foliage that loses its burgundy color in summer, in         blooming 3 to 4 weeks earlier, and in being taller in height         (reaches up to 10 feet in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a the new Loropetalum. The photographs were taken of a three year-old plant as grown outdoors in a one-gallon container in Kawaguchi City, Japan.

The photograph in FIG. 1 is side view of a plant of ‘Kurobijin’ in summer.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Kurobijin’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Kurobijin’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Loropetalum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of a fourteen year-old plant of the new Loropetalum as grown outdoors in a landscape in Kawaguchi City, Japan. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Mounded, compact.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 76 cm (2.5 feet) in height             and spread.         -   Diseases and pests.—No more susceptibility or resistance to             pest or diseases than other Loropetalums.         -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 10.         -   Branching habit.—Densely branched, primarily alternate,             emerge upright at an angle of 45° and cascade downward,             lateral branches are an average of 70 cm in length and 1 cm             in width becoming 1 mm or less in diameter at branch apex,             numerous secondary lateral branches.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative softwood cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Branch color.—N186A.         -   Internode length.—0.5 to 1.5 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Leaf orientation.—Outward, flattened to slightly reflexed.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Oval.         -   Leaf size.—1.5 to 2.5 cm in length, 1 to 1.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to cuneate, occasionally asymmetrical.         -   Leaf surface.—Firm to leathery, upper surface glossy with             impressed veins, lower surface glaucous.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire with stellate hairs.         -   Leaf color.—New growth upper surface; 187A, new growth lower             surface; N79A, mature growth upper surface; N186A, mature             growth lower surface; 187B.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate; new growth upper surface; 187A, new             growth lower surface; N79A, mature upper surface; N186A,             mature lower surface; 186A with scattered stellate hairs on             midrib.         -   Petioles.—1 to 3 mm in length, 0.8 mm in width, color of             upper and lower surfaces N186C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Flowering period.—Late April into early May, occasional             repeat bloom throughout the growing season in Kawaguchi,             Japan.         -   Lastingness of blooms.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Number of flowers.—4 to 8 flowers per inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal raceme, occasionally solitary             at terminals or leaf axils.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 1.5 cm in length and 3 cm             in width. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form.—Perfect, strap-like.         -   Flower buds.—60A in color, average of 2 mm in length and 2             mm in diameter.         -   Flower size.—1.5 to 2.0 cm in length and 0.8 to 1.2 mm in             width.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward.         -   Petals.—4, about 1.5 cm in length and 1 mm in width, linear             in shape, apex and base truncate, entire margin, upper and             lower surface smooth, ranges from 55B to 51A, 53C, 52A, and             53D in color.         -   Sepals.—4, about 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width, fused on             lower half, upper and lower surface is smooth, color of             upper and lower surface is 55B with lower half suffused with             N186C.         -   Pedicel.—An average of 1 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width,             pubescent surface, N186C in color.         -   Peduncles.—An average of 5 mm in length and 0.75 mm in             width, pubescent surface, N186C in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—2, stigmas bifid, ovary 51B in color.         -   Stamens.—4 per flower, pollen sparse in quantity and about             155C in color.         -   Fruit.—2-horned capsule, ovoid in shape, an average of 5 mm             in length and 6 mm in diameter, 75 to 100 per plant, skin is             woody and N199B in color, 2 seeds per capsule. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named ‘Kurobijin’ as herein illustrated and described. 